Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Two

[KeefeCato]

Pirates had Stennett, Cash and Randolph I believe they were all on the 75 team. Seems like everyone who played with the Pirates back then could hit. Lumber company.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Pirates had Stennett, Cash and Randolph I believe they were all on the 75 team. Seems like everyone who played with the Pirates back then could hit. Lumber company.

Had some fine teams. Were it not for the BRM the Pirates would probably have some more titles. Al Oliver was a helluva hitter, too.

In late seventies, early eighties they added a pretty good hitter by the name of Bill Madlock.

[mth123]

Had some fine teams. Were it not for the BRM the Pirates would probably have some more titles. Al Oliver was a helluva hitter, too.

In late seventies, early eighties they added a pretty good hitter by the name of Bill Madlock.

Funny thing is, they won just as many World Series in the 70s as the Reds did. Of course the Reds were a much better team historically, but those Pirates teams were awfully good.

[RedsBaron]

Funny thing is, they won just as many World Series in the 70s as the Reds did. Of course the Reds were a much better team historically, but those Pirates teams were awfully good.

In 1972 the Pirates actually played, and won, one more game than the Reds in the regular season, although the Reds won their season series 8-4. Of course, going into the bottom on the ninth in the game five NLCS series that decided the pennant, the Pirates held a one run lead, only for the Reds to tie it on Bench's HR and later win it on a wild pitch. In retrospect, had the Pirates won the NL title in 1972 they would have tied the Reds for NL pennants in the 1970s with three each, and had they gone to the Series, they perhaps would had won three World Series that decade. Each team captured six division crowns that decade. At its peak in 1975-76, the Big Red Machine was still the better team than any Pirates team that decade, but the 70s Pirates were a very, very good team.

[Big Klu]

I'm convinced that if the Reds didn't exist, then either the Pirates or Dodgers would have been the "Team of the 70's". Both clubs consistently had more talent and star power than anyone else in baseball during that era (except for the Reds).

[RedsBaron]

I'm convinced that if the Reds didn't exist, then either the Pirates or Dodgers would have been the "Team of the 70's". Both clubs consistently had more talent and star power than anyone else in baseball during that era (except for the Reds).

It was a somewhat unusual decade, as each of the four divisions had one team that was dominant much of the decade and another team that almost as good, and each division producing a world champion. The AL East had the Yankees, who won three pennants and two World Series in the 70s, and the Orioles who also won three pennants with one World Series win [the 1969-71 Orioles were a great, great team]. The AL West had the hated A's, winners of three division titles, three pennants and three World Series, before they collapsed with the onset of free agency, and the Royals who won three straight divisional titles. The NL East had the Pirates, whom we've already discussed, and then the Phillies, who, like the Royals, won three straight division crowns but never made the World Series in the 70s [Both the Royals and the Phillies won two league titles and a World Series in the 80s]. Finally the NL West had the Reds, but also the Dodgers, who won three pennants but had to wait until 1981 for a World Series win. The 1975-76 Reds were the greatest team of the 1970s, but the 1970-71 Orioles were so close, and the Pirates and A's were also very good.

[Big Klu]

The A's actually won five consecutive AL West championships (1971-75). The Royals then won the next three AL West titles (1976-78).

The only clubs other than the A's or Royals to win the AL West in the 70's were the Twins (1970) and the Angels (1979).

[50YrRedsFan]

5/23/2022...ex Dodger, Athletic, Giant, original Met and long time coach for the Mets: Joe Pignatano, age 92.
https://www.amny.com/sports/joe-pignatano-obit-mets/ Caught the final innings of the Dodgers final game at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn in 1957. Last living coach from the 1969 "Miracle Mets"

.

[Kc61]

5/23/2022...ex Dodger, Athletic, Giant, original Met and long time coach for the Mets: Joe Pignatano, age 92.
https://www.amny.com/sports/joe-pignatano-obit-mets/ Caught the final innings of the Dodgers final game at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn in 1957. Last living coach from the 1969 "Miracle Mets"

.

My first baseball glove had his signature. I don’t remember it as a catcher’s mitt, but it was a long time ago.

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a backup catcher.

Transactions:
Signed C Joe Pignatano.
Optioned RHP Calvin Jones to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bill Short


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Gale Wade


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club improves its bench by signing a right-handed hitting backup catcher with occasional pop and the ability to take a walk. Joe Pignatano had a six-year career as a backup catcher for the Dodgers, A's, Giants, and Mets, and was the catcher for the Dodgers when the final out was recorded at Ebbets Field in 1957. Pignatano had only a .234 career batting average, but due to his 94 BB's in 809 career PA's, he had a career OBP of .332. Pignatano figures to be the #2 catcher on the depth chart, behind John Ellis and ahead of Vic Roznovsky. The club plans to keep all three catchers on the 25-man roster for now, giving them a full seven-man bench. To make room for Pignatano on the 25-man active roster, the club options RHP Calvin Jones to AAA, cutting the bullpen back to five pitchers, and the pitching staff to 10.

[cumberlandreds]

5/23/2022...ex Dodger, Athletic, Giant, original Met and long time coach for the Mets: Joe Pignatano, age 92.
https://www.amny.com/sports/joe-pignatano-obit-mets/ Caught the final innings of the Dodgers final game at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn in 1957. Last living coach from the 1969 "Miracle Mets"

.

This is someone who I thought was already gone. When you are young you think some people were really old and I believe I thought this about Pignatano. He really wasn't back then when I would see him as a coach for the Mets. RIP Joe Pignatano.

[Big Klu]

5/21/2022: Former Yankees, Dodgers, A's, Angels OF Gordie Windhorn; age 88.



https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=34908076

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a right-handed hitting outfielder for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed OF Gordie Windhorn, and optioned him to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bill Short


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a right-handed hitting OF for organizational depth. Gordie Windhorn is primarily a LF, though he does have some experience at all three OF positions. Windhorn becomes the 13th OF on the 40-man roster (which currently stands at 37). There are currently only eight catchers and infielders on the 40-man roster, so the club will have to do some pruning of outfielders and pitchers once the roster is filled. Of the six outfielders currently assigned to AAA, Windhorn grades out the highest, so he will likely remain on the 40-man roster for a while.

[50YrRedsFan]

5/24/2022...ex Tiger, Red, Met: Robert (Bob) Miller, age 86. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=34928640

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a left-handed relief pitcher to compete for a role in the bullpen.

Transactions:
Signed LHP Bob Miller.
Optioned LHP Bill Short to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bob Miller


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Bill Short

OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a left-handed pitcher to compete for a role in the bullpen. Bob Miller was young LHP with control issues who made his major-league debut with the Tigers in 1953 at the age of 17. Miller logged parts of four seasons in Detroit before missing the 1957 season due to military service. Upon his return, he toiled for four years in the minors before reaching the majors again in 1962 with the Reds and Mets. His best season was as an 18-year-old rookie in 1954, when he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in 69.2 innings. Miller figures to fit into the bullpen in long and middle relief.

To make room for Miller on the 25-man active roster, the club options LHP Bill Short to AAA. Miller and Short are basically the same pitcher -- according to Baseball-reference.com, Short is #2 on Miller's similarity list, while Miller is #3 on Short's list with a score of 987.7. (1000 is virtually identical.) The club decided to keep Miller over Short as he has logged more innings and has shown to be a little more durable.